Albion moved up to sixth in the WSL table after completing the double over West Ham with a 2-0 victory at the Chigwell Construction Stadium.
A vibrant start was rewarded with an early goal for Aileen Whelan, her third of the season, and the visitors could have extended their lead with Megan Connolly hitting the bar and Inessa Kaagman and Danielle Carter going close.
West Ham rallied in the second half but WSL debutant Katie Startup impressed in goal and eight minutes from time Kaagman had her third of the season after capitalising on some poor defending.
Albion made the perfect start with a goal after three minutes. Ellie Brazil won the ball back on the right, found Kaagman on the edge of the box and she laid the ball sideways for Whelan to strike low with her right foot into the bottom corner.
The goal infused Albion with confidence as they dominated the opening stages, dominating possession and looking a threat down both flanks.
Startup, who was making her WSL debut because first-choice No. 1 Megan Walsh was ill, made a good save at her near post to deny Tameka Yallop but had little else to do in the first half which ended with Albion twice going close.
Kaagman forced Mackenzie Arnold to turn her drive from 30 yards over the bar and in stoppage time Danielle Carter couldn’t keep her header on target after Maya Le Tissier’s cross picked her out.
Albion continued to threaten after the break. Arnold made a smart low save at the near post to push Carter’s shot around the post then after they pressed deep in West Ham territory, the ball fell to Connolly 20 yards out and her right-foot drive clipped the crossbar and went over.
West Ham improved in the second half and Startup needed to be alert to deny Dagny Brynjarsdottir twice in as many minutes, blocking a far-post header before falling on another header in a crowded six-yard box.
The home side sensed they might be rewarded for their growing pressure but Albion held firm and then took advantage of some terrible defending to double their lead with eight minutes to go.
Hawa Cissoko played the ball back into the heart of the West Ham penalty are, Grace Fisk tried to clear but it ricocheted off keeper Arnold into the path of Kaagman path and she fired into an empty net.
An excellent away performance by Hope Powell’s side, who travel to Manchester United next Sunday.
Albion: Startup, Kerkdijk, Williams, Kullberg, Koivisto, Le Tissier, Whelan, Connolly, Brazil (sub: Lee 37), Kaagman (Zigiotti 83), Carter (Gibbons 69).
Subs: Bance, Simpkins, Symonds.
Referee: Paul Howard
Attendance: 1411